Multi-use weight lifting bar

ABSTRACT

A multi-use weight lifting bar is adaptable to both free weight and machine weight lifting types. The multi-use weight lifting bar has left and right lobes with grip handles oriented to perform an exercise. A weight post is carried at the ends of the lifting bar for carriage of a weight plate. A coupling at the center of the bar is rotationally disposed about the bar. The coupling may be attached to an attachment point for a machine weight lifting apparatus. The coupling may also include a sleeve that is connectable to a weight lifting bar or other weight lifting apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly to weight lifting equipment.

For some people, weight lifting is a common means of providing a fitness activity. For others, such as professional body builders and athletes, it provides a way to improve their muscular development and their performance at their chosen sport.

There is a wide variety of weight lifting equipment, including traditional free weights, such as familiar barbells. There are also a number of machine lifting apparatus, such as cable and pulley mechanisms that are connected to a user selectable weight stack. Some weight machines are a cross mixture of a conventional free weights and machines, in which weight plates may be carried on a barbell or a stub to carry the free weights and the lifting or displacement of the weights allow the user to focus on a particular muscle or muscle groups.

With the wide variety of weight lifting apparatus, there are also a number of weight lifting bars, each oriented to a specific purpose. Consequently, it is often necessary for a gymnasium, whether public or private, to provide the necessary equipment for their patrons. For the individual or private gym, the costs of outfitting the gym with more than one or two bars, can be cost prohibitive. In either event, valuable exercise space may be lost just to store or house the variety of exercise bars to meet each need. For a well equipped gym, with both machines and free weights, these costs and space requirements can be exacerbated by the need to obtain a separate bar for each weight lifting equipment type.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus and method for a multi-use weight lifting bar that can be used for a variety of lifting techniques and is adapted for both machine and free weight use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention a multi-use exercise bar, is disclosed. The exercise bar includes a left and the right lobe formed as a generally ellipsoidal ring with at least one gripping handle disposed across a minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe. It may, for example, feature three grips in each lobe. A center bar is attached to an interior end of the left and the right lobe and aligned with a major axis of the ring to interconnect the left and the right lobe. A weight post attached to an outer end of the left and the right lobe. The weight post is oriented along the major axis of the ring and is adapted to be received in an aperture of a weight plate. A coupling is rotationally disposed around the center bar.

In some embodiments, the coupling has an aperture that is adapted to interconnect with a cable of a weight lifting apparatus. In other embodiments, the coupling includes a sleeve element that oriented substantially orthogonal to the center bar. The sleeve element defines a cylindrical interior cavity that adapted to receive an end of a weight lifting bar.

The weight post may include a collar at an inner end of the weight post and a weight shaft at an outer end of the weight post. The weight shaft may be rotationally carried about the weight post.

The at least one gripping handle may include a plurality of gripping handles disposed across the minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe. The at least one handle may be oriented at an angle offset from the minor axis of the lobe.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an embodiment of a multi-use weight lifting bar shown in use;

FIG. 2 is an alternate use of the multi-use weight lifting bar;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective of the multi-use weight lifting bar;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the multi-use weight lifting bar, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an alternate use of the multi-use weight lifting bar;

FIG. 6 is an alternate use of the multi-use weight lifting bar; and

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the multi-use weight lifting bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-use weight lifting bar. The multi-use weight lifting bar is adapted for use in both free weight and weight machine exercise apparatus.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1 the multi-use weight lifting bar 10 is shown in use with a weight lifting machine 12. By way of non-limiting example, the multi-use weight lifting bar 10 is shown attached to a pull-down apparatus 12. The present invention will find utility with a variety of weight machine lifting apparatus, such as a row machine, a biceps machine, and the like.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 2-4 the multi-use weight lifting bar 10 includes a left and a right lobe 14 disposed on either side of a center bar 22. The left and the right lobes 14 are formed in a generally oval shape out of a tubular or rod material, with an interior end of the oval attached to the center bar 22 along a major axis of the oval.

At least one gripping handle 20 is disposed across a minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe 14. The at least one gripping handle 20 may include a plurality of gripping handles 20. The gripping handles 20 are oriented as paired sets across a longitudinal axis of the bar 10. The gripping handles 20 may be oriented offset from the minor axis of the lobes 14. The user may also grasp the bar 10 by the lobe 14 as well.

A weight post 28 is attached to an outer end of the left and the right lobe 14. The weight post 28 is aligned with a major axis of the left and the right lobe 14. The weight post 28 may also include a collar 29 and a weight shaft 28. The weight shaft 28 may be rotationally disposed about the weight post. The weight post 28 is adapted to carry a weight plate 18 via an aperture defined through the weight plate 18. In some embodiments, the weight post 28 may be dimensioned to an Olympic style weight plate.

A coupling 30 has a first sleeve 31 that is rotationally carried on the center bar 22 and provides 360 degrees of movement around the bar 10. In some embodiments, the coupling 30 includes an aperture 29 that is adapted to interconnect the multi-use weight bar 10 to an exercise machine apparatus, such as to a pull cable.

In other embodiments, a second sleeve 16 may be attached to the coupling 30. The sleeve is formed with a cylindrical interior cavity that is dimensioned to be removably received on the end of a weight lifting bar 32 or other weight lifting apparatus. In yet other embodiments, the second sleeve 16 has a notch 17 extending through a lateral sidewall of the second sleeve 16. The notch 17 permits the second sleeve 16 and bar 10 to be removably coupled from the weight lifting bar 32 in an intermediate portion 22 of the bar, such as between the outer collars. As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, the coupling 30 may be applied to a center portion 22 of any conventional exercise bar 34 to make it a multi-use exercise bar, as shown in reference to FIG. 7.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-use exercise bar, comprising: a left and the right lobe formed as a generally ellipsoidal ring with at least one gripping handle disposed across a minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe; a center bar attached to an inner end of the left and the right lobe aligned with a major axis of the ring to interconnect the left and the right lobe; a weight post attached to an outer end of the left and the right lobe, the weight post oriented along the major axis of the ring, the weight post adapted to be received in an aperture of a weight plate; and a coupling rotationally disposed around the center bar, the coupling having an aperture adapted to interconnect with a cable of a weight lifting apparatus.
 2. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the coupling further comprises: a sleeve element oriented substantially orthogonal to the center bar, the sleeve element defining a cylindrical interior cavity adapted to receive an end of a weight lifting bar.
 3. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 2, wherein the coupling further comprises: a notch extending through a lateral sidewall of the sleeve, the notch adapted to be removably coupled to an intermediate portion of a weight lifting bar between an outer collar of the weight lifting bar.
 4. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the weight post further comprises: a collar at an inner end of the weight post; and a weight shaft at an outer end of the weight post.
 5. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 4, wherein the weight shaft is rotationally carried about the weight post.
 6. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of gripping handles disposed across the minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe.
 7. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the at least one handle is oriented at an angle offset from the minor axis of the lobe.
 8. A multi-use exercise bar, comprising: a left and the right lobe formed as a generally ellipsoidal ring with at least one gripping handle disposed across a minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe; a center bar attached to an inner end of the left and the right lobe aligned with a major axis of the ring to interconnect the left and the right lobe; a weight post attached to an outer end of the left and the right lobe, the weight post oriented along the major axis of the ring, the weight post adapted to be received in an aperture of a weight plate; and a coupling rotationally disposed around the center bar, the coupling having a sleeve element oriented substantially orthogonal to the center bar, the sleeve element defining a cylindrical interior cavity adapted to receive an end of a weight lifting bar.
 9. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 8, wherein the coupling further comprises: a notch extending through a lateral sidewall of the sleeve, the notch adapted to be removably coupled to an intermediate portion of a weight lifting bar between an outer collar of the weight lifting bar.
 10. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 8, wherein the coupling further comprises: an aperture extending through a sidewall of the sleeve, wherein the aperture is adapted to interconnect with a cable of a weight lifting apparatus.
 11. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 8, wherein the weight post further comprises: a collar at an inner end of the weight post; and a weight shaft at an outer end of the weight post.
 12. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 11, wherein the weight shaft is rotationally carried about the weight post.
 13. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of gripping handles disposed across the minor axis of each of the left and the right lobe.
 14. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 8, wherein the at least one handle is oriented at an angle offset from the minor axis of the lobe.
 15. A multi-use exercise bar, comprising: an exercise bar having a left end, a right end, and a center portion; and a coupling having a first sleeve element rotationally disposed around the center portion of bar, a second sleeve element oriented substantially orthogonal to the first sleeve element, the second sleeve element defining a cylindrical cavity adapted to receive an end of a weight lifting bar.
 16. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 15, further comprising: an aperture defined in an outer wall of the second sleeve element, the aperture adapted to interconnect with a cable of a weight lifting apparatus.
 17. The multi-use exercise bar of claim 15, further comprising: a notch extending through a lateral sidewall of the second sleeve element, the notch adapted to be removably coupled to an intermediate portion of the weight lifting bar. 